Example: Which of these three houses is the expensivest? ==> ……most expensive ……

1 Come on, you’ve got to admit she’s much slimer than you!

2 She’s always saying she’s better looking than I.

3 Our cat Whiskers has been much more lively since we added vitamin supplements to her diet.

4 We felt the male character was realer than the female, who seemed very artificial.

5 ‘Which do you prefer, darling, the brown or the green?’ ‘Oh, the green is definitely the best.’

6 I’m most proudest of this one. I won it against really stiff competition.

7 The divorce has made him the most unhappy man in the street, don’t you think?

8 That special diet has worked miracles. He’s much less fat than he used to be

9 The eldest piece in the museum is this Egyptian amulet from the Third Dynasty.

10 Hasn’t their eldest son just landed some sort of job in Seattle?

11 Our new social security scheme is lots more generous than the previous Government’s.

12 Windsor Castle is the largest occupied castle of Britain

13 Things are about as worse as they can get.

14 Children these days seem to get ruder and ruder and ruder

15 I’m angrier than upset

Complete each sentence so that it means exactly the same as the preceding one. You must include the word(s) in brackets.

Example: I predicted the weather would be very hot and I was right. (just as)

==> The weather …was just as hot as I predicted…….

16 The Hyperlink modem is much faster than all the others in our catalogue. (by far)

Of all the modems………………………………………………………………………..

17 Jan and Lucy are equally good at tennis. (no).

Jan is ……………………………………………………………………….. Lucy at tennis

18 Getting a made-to-measure suit was much cheaper than I expected. (not nearly)

Getting a made-to-measure suit ………………………………………………………………………..

19 I couldn’t open the lock because it was very cold. (that)

It ……………………………………………………………………….. open the lock.

20 He gets increasingly angry as he becomes more frustrated. (angrier)

The more ……………………………………………………………………….. he gets.

B GRAMMAR EXPLANATION: Comparison

Gradable adjectives can be used to make comparisons. The rules for the production of comparative and superlative forms of adjectives are generally straightforward but there can be difficulties with spelling, exceptions in use, and the different phrases which accompany them. This unit also describes ways of making comparisons without using comparative and superlative forms, e.g. with like and as.

COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES

1A. Form and use

Hot Dog €1.50

Hamburger € 2.75

Fishburger € 2.75

Cheeseburger € 3.95

We use comparative adjectives to compare two (or more) things or people, and superlative adjectives to distinguish one thing or person from a number of others. This table shows the forms of comparative and superlative adjectives and the basic patterns they are used in:

comparative adjectives

superlative adjectives

adjectives with one syllable:

cheap

ending in silent -e: safe

ending in a consonant + y: dry

ending in a single vowel +

a single consonant: big

adjective + -er (+ than).

The hamburger is cheaper

(than the cheeseburger).

omit final -e: safer

change y to i: drier

double the final consonant:

bigger

the + adjective + -est:

The hot dog is the cheapest

omit final -e: the safest

change y to i: the driest

double the final consonant:

the biggest

adjectives with two or more syllables:

expensive

more + adjective:

The hamburger is more expensive (than the hot dog).

the most + adjective:

The cheeseburger is the most expensive.

irregular adjectives

good/ bad

far

old

better/ worse

further/ farther

older/ elder

the best/ worst

furthest/ farthest

oldest/ eldest

We can use than to introduce a clause after a comparative adjective:

Los Angeles is bigger than I expected it to be

We can use other phrases between a comparative adjective and a than clause:

Burgers were more expensive in this restaurant than in the others we visited.

Note: If the object of the comparison is a pronoun without a verb we usually use an object pronoun. If there is a verb we use a subject pronoun:

I'[m taller than he.] ✓ I’m taller than him ✓ I’m taller than he is.

Note: When we have two or more adjectives with more in a list, we usually only use more once:

[Lester and Craves were more hardworking and more determined than the others.]

✓ Lester and Graves were more hardworking and determined than the others.

When we refer to a place or group we use ‘in’ not ‘of’ after superlatives.

X New York is one of the largest cities of the world.✓ . . .in the world.

X He s by far the cleverest student of his class.✓…in his class.

But in formal English we can put an ‘of’ phrase at the beginning of the sentence, before the superlative.

Of the students in his class, he is the cleverest.

1B. Exceptions

There are some exceptions to the rules of form and the patterns of use listed above. One-syllable adjectives ending in -ed and the adjectives real, right and wrong form the comparative and superlative with more and most (they do not take -er and -est):

X I was boreder than I was on the flight to Sydney.

✓ I was more bored than I was on the flight to Sydney.

Many two-syllable adjectives ending in -ly. -y, -ow. -r and -l and the adjectives common, handsome, mature, pleasant, polite, simple and stupid can have either more and most or -er and -est:

The photographer wanted something more lively (or livelier).

Your son needs to develop a maturer (or more mature) attitude to his work.

When we add a negative prefix to two-syllable adjectives ending in -y (e.g. happy -unhappy) they can still take -er and -est:

He’s the unhappiest man in the world.

Note: In informal spoken English we sometimes use a superlative adjective when we are only comparing two things, especially if the two things make a set:

I’ve got two cars but the Mercedes is the best

1C. Irregular adjectives

We can use elder and eldest (instead of older and oldest) to talk about people’s ages, especially people in the same family, but we can’t use elder immediately after a verb:

Their eldest I oldest son went to Harvard. Mary is the eldest/the oldest.

X My sister is elder (than me). ✓ My sister is older (than me).

Note that we don’t use elder and eldest to talk about the age of things:

X This is the eldest house in the street. ✓ This is the oldest house in the street.

We use further or farther to talk about a ‘greater distance’:

John’s house is the farther one.

I’ve moved further away from my parents. (= a greater distance away)

Note: We use further (not farther) with the meaning of ‘extra’ or ‘more’:

Let me know if you have any further questions. (= extra/more)

1D. Emphasis and strength

Most one-syllable adjectives can also form the comparative and superlative with more or most instead of -er or -est. We usually use this form for emphasis in spoken English:

You should be more proud of the things you’ve already achieved. (= prouder)

I think this is the one she is the most proud of. (= proudest)

Comparatives can be made stronger or weaker by inserting a word or phrase in front of them:

9 I don’t mind the Mediterranean summer because it’s a …………… heat than you find in the tropics.

10 They say the great pyramid at Giza is …………… structure to survive from the ancient world.

11 I like all Mozart’s operas but I think Don Giovanni is the one I am …………… on.

12 We inherited two paintings from my grandmother. Of the two, I’d say the landscape is …………….

13 I know all murder is wrong, but don’t you agree that it’s …………… to murder a child than to murder an adult?

14 …………… I’ve ever felt was when Joe and I were flying over the Himalayas and we hit a storm; it was absolutely petrifying.

15 That play was so tedious. I was …………… watching that than I was when I spent three hours trapped in that lift last year!

Q 2.

Match each sentence (1-7) with a sentence with the same meaning from A-G.

1 It’s slightly cheaper

2 It’s much cheaper.

3 It isn’t anything like as cheap

4 It’s just as cheap.

5 It’s by far the cheapest.

6 It isn’t quite as cheap.

7 It isn’t as cheap.

A It’s considerably more expensive

B It’s the least expensive.

C It’s more expensive.

D It’s somewhat less expensive.

E It’s no more expensive.

F It’s slightly more expensive.

G It’s nothing like as expensive.

Q 3.

Tick (✓) the best explanation, A or B.

1 The prices on the menu aren’t nearly as expensive as I expected.

A Prices are a little cheaper than I expected.

B Prices are much cheaper than I expected.

2 It looks as if your new car isn’t any more reliable than the old one!

A Both cars are equally unreliable.

B The new car is slightly less reliable than the old one.

3 Of all the teams in the league, theirs is the least successful.

A Their team is the most unsuccessful.

B Their team is less successful than some of the others.

4 They said it was one of the most powerful earthquakes ever.

A No other earthquake was as powerful.

B There may have been more powerful earthquakes.

5 The new tax regulations are somewhat more rigorous than last year’s.

A The new regulations are much more rigorous than last year’s.

B Last year’s regulations were slightly less rigorous.

6 I have to say that the hotel wasn’t quite as luxurious as the brochure claimed.

A The hotel was much less luxurious than the brochure claimed.

B The hotel was slightly less luxurious than the brochure claimed.

7 This is by far the best seat in the plane. There’s loads of legroom.

A No seat in the plane is better.

B Other seats may be equally good.

8 She isn’t anything like as snobbish as you said.

A She is less snobbish than you said.

B She isn’t snobbish.

9 I’m afraid your figures are no more accurate than the ones Rachel gave me.

A Your figures are less accurate than Rachel’s.

B Your figures and Rachel’s figures are equally inaccurate.

10 As far as Daniel’s job is concerned, things are about as bad as they can be.

A Daniel’s job could get worse.

B Daniel’s job couldn’t be any worse than it is.

Q 4.

Complete each sentence so that it means the same as preceding one(s). Use the words in brackets but do not change the words given in any way.

0 As students get closer to their exams they become more nervous. (the … more)

==> The closer students…gets to their exams, the more nervous they become……

1 The lecture was very boring. As a result I fell asleep. (so … that)

The lecture ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2 The tickets sold out within days because the concert was so well publicised. (such … that)

It was …………………………………………………………………..

3 The wording of the document is very complicated. It’s incomprehensible. (so … as to)

The wording of the document ……………………………………………………………..

4 I couldn’t find my contact lens because it was very dark. (too)

It was ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5 My friends claimed that the exhibition was interesting but I found it pretty dull. (exhibition)

It wasn’t as ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

6 She’s slightly angry but she’s very disappointed. (than)

She’s ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

7 Approaching the church, we noticed the sound of the bells becoming increasingly loud.

(and … and)

Approaching the church, we noticed the sound of the bells ………………………………………………

8 As dogs get older they become less aggressive. (the less)

The older dogs ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

9 My son can’t get a place at kindergarten because he’s too young. (enough)

My son isn’t ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

10 Their remarks were only slightly insulting, but they were extremely inaccurate. (not so much)

Their remarks ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Q 5.

Match the situations (1-15) with the similes (A-P). Then use the similes to rewrite the sentences. You may need to use a good dictionary for this exercise.

A like a cat on a hot tin roof

B like a trooper

C like a lamb to the slaughter

D like a bull in a china shop

E like a bear with a sore head

F like a log

G like a chimney

H like a rocket

I like hot cakes

J as a fiddle

K as a feather

L as ice

M as the grave

N as a sheet

0 as a mule

P as the hills

0 Stonehenge is incredibly ancient, more than 4,000 years old.

==> (P)Stonehenge is as old as the hills

1 She’s a heavy smoker.

2 He’s incredibly clumsy and often breaks things.

3 I slept really soundly last night.

4 It’s absolutely freezing in here!

5 She so naive, she doesn’t realise what a dangerous situation she’s going into.

6 My grandmother may be 85 but she’s incredibly fit and healthy.

7 Do you feel all right? You’re very pale.

8 He’s terribly nervous, he can’t keep still for a moment.

9 She’s in a foul mood this morning, shouting at and arguing with everyone.

10 Our new car goes really fast.

11 My new flatmate never stops swearing.

12 Once the lights were out the dormitory became eerily quiet.

13 She doesn’t need to diet, she weighs hardly anything!

14 Once the old man has made his mind up he never changes it, whatever you say.

15 These new mobile phones are selling amazingly well.

Q 6.

Complete the following article. Use only one word for each space (1-20). Read through the whole text before you begin writing. The exercise begins with an example (0).

CONSUMER REPORT

HAIR CONDITIONERS

For this week’s consumer test we’ve been looking at the (0)…most…popular choices of competing hair conditioner. We chose the three (1)… –selling brands: Supremesoft, Vitabalm and ActiveShine, and gave them to our panel of ordinary consumers to try for a month.

Supremesoft **

At $2.99 for 250ml Supremesoft is the (2)……. expensive of the three brands. But, surprisingly, price is no guide to quality as this brand was (3) ……… more effective (4) ……… the cheaper brands. On the other hand, the panel felt the packaging was (5) ………… upscale than the competitors, and the conditioner itself had an attractive colour and scent. But these advantages weren’t significant (6) ………… to compensate for the extra cost.

Vitabalm *

Vitabalm is the (7)…… of the tested brands ($1.99 for 250ml). Our consumers thought the packaging wasn’t (8)……… attractive (9) ………… the others and the conditioner had what one tester described as ‘a rather chemical smell’. It was (10) …………. as effective as the others in dealing with tangled hair, but testers with dry hair found that it wasn’t rich enough (11) ………… give their hair any extra body. And everyone agreed that it was (12) ……….. harsh to be useable on a daily basis.

ActiveShine ***

This brand emerged as the (13)…… all-round value for money. It had a strong smell, rather (14) ……. an antiseptic cream, but the smell was not (15)…… strong as to be off-putting. Testers found that it was just as effective with greasy hair as with dry hair and it was (16)………. far the most successful with flyaway hair. ActiveShine doesn’t have (17) ……………. a rich composition as Supremesoft, but our testers found that (18)……… more they used it, the (19) ……….. noticeable the effect on their hair, so it was considered to be just as effective (20)……. the others in the long term.

So, at around $2.50 for 250ml ActiveShine receives this month’s three-star rating.

D ANSWER KEY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST

1 slimer ==> slimmer

2 than I ==> than me/ than I am

3 ✓ (but also much more lively ==> much livelier)

4 realer ==> more real

5 ✓

6 most proudest ==> proudest/ the most proud

7 ✓ (but also the most unhappy ==> the unhappiest)

8 ✓

9 eldest ==> oldest

10 ✓

11 lots ==> a lot/considerably/ much/a great deal/even/far more

12 of ==> in

13 worse ==> bad

14 ✓

15 angrier ==> more angry

16 Of all the modems (in our catalogue), the Hyperlink is by far the fastest/the fastest by far.

17 Jan is no better/ Jan is no worse than Lucy at tennis.

18 Getting a made-to-measure suit was not nearly as expensive as I expected.

19 It was so cold that I couldn’t open the lock.

20 The more frustrated he becomes, the angrier he gets.

E ANSWER KEY FOR PRACTICE EXERCISE

Q 1.

1. the best

2. the wettest

3. more real than

4. the furthest/ farthest

5. fatter/ bigger than

6. tidier than

7. looser

8. the worst

9. drier

10. the biggest

11. (the) most keen/ keenest

12. the prettier/ prettiest

13. more wrong

14. The most scared

15. more bored

Q 2.

1 D 2 G 3 A 4 E 5 B 6 F 7 C

Q 3.

1 B 2 A 3 A 4 B 5 B

6 B 7 A 8 A 9 B 10 B

Q 4.

The lecture was so boring that I fell asleep.

It was such a well-publicised concert that the tickets sold out within days.

The wording of the document is so complicated as to be incomprehensible.

It was too dark to find my contact lens.

It wasn’t as interesting an exhibition as my friends had claimed.

She’s more disappointed than angry.

Approaching the church, we noticed the sound of the bells becoming louder and louder and louder.

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